Toyota to Recall Over One Million Cars Worldwide

Toyota Motor Corp is recalling more than 1.35 million Vitz and two other models globally to fix a defect in the seat belt, a component in the exhaust system or both. Subject to the recall in Japan are 525,898 Vitz, Belta and Ractis cars built from January 2005 to April 2008, Toyota said in a filing with the transport ministry, according to Toyota. Toyota also will recall a combined 830,000 units of the Vitz subcompact and Belta — called Yaris in many markets, including the United States — exported to Europe, North America and other countries.

One case of fire was reported in Japan due to the faulty seat belt design, which could cause a noise-absorber device to melt when the seat belt tensioner is activated in a collision, according to Toyota. No accident was reported in Japan from the defective exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) pipe, which could crack in the worst-case scenario and cause exhaust gases that fail to clear emissions standards to leak. Toyota hasn’t disclosed the estimated cost of the recalls.